I also don't understand how I was given a $2,000.00 fine, a year of probation and 100 hours of community service because I took a short cut and walked alongside (20 feet away from the actual tracks) a barely used set of railroad tracks for one block to get to the market to buy food for my children.

I also don't understand how I was given a $2,000.00 fine, a year of probation and 100 hours of community service because I took a short cut and walked alongside (20 feet away from the actual tracks) a barely used set of railroad tracks for one block to get to the market to buy food for my children.

She may have exaggerated, or left out other things she did wrong, but there ARE actual real-life horror stories, like the sex-on-the-beach couple in FL who could get 15 years and sex offender status for life, or teens prosecuted under the child porn laws for sexting.

And wasn't Steve Barry arrested for photographing from an Amtrak platform he had a right to be standing on?

Yet they obviously do poorly at catching the hordes of spray-paint vandals.

She may have exaggerated, or left out other things she did wrong, but there ARE actual real-life horror stories, like the sex-on-the-beach couple in FL who could get 15 years and sex offender status for life, or teens prosecuted under the child porn laws for sexting.

And wasn't Steve Barry arrested for photographing from an Amtrak platform he had a right to be standing on?

Yet they obviously do poorly at catching the hordes of spray-paint vandals.

Not to mention the porn scene on the ballast along some UP tracks in California a few years back (to which I have all the stills). And yes, there was even a passing train! It's amazing what people can get away with and not be charged with anything, while something as simple as walking along the tracks for a brief moment can result in a huge fine and punishment.

__________________.
Rhymes with slice, rice and mice, and probably should be spelled like "Tice."

It sounds extremely sketchy. $2,000, probation, community service because she walked 20 ft away from railroad tracks to go get her children food. Sounds like a sob story.

And if you truly do think we live in a police state I'm sorry that you have to live your life in fear everyday.

Not wanting to be harassed while engaging in a constitutionally-protected activity is living in fear? There are good cops and bad cops. I've encountered both kinds, but too many of the latter. And the good ones ought to stop enabling the bad apples.

Btw, just had an interaction with my hometown cops tonight. I was sitting in a Dollar General parking lot waiting for a couple of NS southbounds and I knew I was going to draw the attention of the cops being it 11:30 at night. Sure enough one pulled up behind me, she came up and asked me what I was doing. I told her I was watching trains. She asked for my license and I gave it to her (Oh no! My rights!). She came back asked me to find somewhere else to watch so I left.

My rights have been infringed! I'm suing! What a terrible, terrible, police state this is!

I was just thinking a couple hours ago that it's only lately we are warned to keep our hands in sight and be very, very careful when reaching for the ID that the cop just demanded (so as not to get shot dead).

Btw, just had an interaction with my hometown cops tonight. I was sitting in a Dollar General parking lot waiting for a couple of NS southbounds and I knew I was going to draw the attention of the cops being it 11:30 at night. Sure enough one pulled up behind me, she came up and asked me what I was doing. I told her I was watching trains. She asked for my license and I gave it to her (Oh no! My rights!). She came back asked me to find somewhere else to watch so I left.

My rights have been infringed! I'm suing! What a terrible, terrible, police state this is!

Why did she ask you to go somewhere else? Loitering?

__________________.
Rhymes with slice, rice and mice, and probably should be spelled like "Tice."

I was just thinking a couple hours ago that it's only lately we are warned to keep our hands in sight and be very, very careful when reaching for the ID that the cop just demanded (so as not to get shot dead).

You defend cops, I defend the Bill of Rights (all of them, not just the 2nd), which limit the power of government. My opinion of cops is formed by reading about cops, observing cops, and (unfortunately) cops in the family (two of whom were caught and punished for their criminality).

However, this conversation is more appropriate for Yahoo or Disqus. Bye!

lol Well this took a turn! I'd prefer that people are kept away from railroad tracks as a matter of safety more than anything else. It's amazing how many people walk between the rails, get a horn blown at them and then give a look like "hey train, what the hell are YOU doing here?".

lol Well this took a turn! I'd prefer that people are kept away from railroad tracks as a matter of safety more than anything else. It's amazing how many people walk between the rails, get a horn blown at them and then give a look like "hey train, what the hell are YOU doing here?".

People should stay off roadways as a matter of safety, too. But yet, every day, millions of people walk along them and cross them safely.

__________________.
Rhymes with slice, rice and mice, and probably should be spelled like "Tice."

It's amazing what people can get away with and not be charged with anything, while something as simple as walking along the tracks for a brief moment can result in a huge fine and punishment.

Yup! I've seen people who were not railfans nor photographers at locations that I'd have been both tempted and envious to be at.

I remember being told the horror stories of what life was like in other countries yet now understand those stories are told about us.

You think Obama would grant amnesty for trespassing violations deemed too harsh? He has done so for crack addicts - oddly, even those who had been caught selling drugs and in possession of fire arm at the time. Go chief.

People should stay off roadways as a matter of safety, too. But yet, every day, millions of people walk along them and cross them safely.

True but the general public, and I mean GENERAL public are much more aware of how traffic on a roadway works vs rail traffic. Some people seem oblivious to the fact that Railroads still exist. Also, people cross through trains with their bikes and stuff. I'm not talking about a train tied down in a siding somewhere, I'm talking about trains that just pulled in for a crew change while 5,000 feet back people are crawling under and over cars to get through. There is a blatant complacency on the part of the public when it comes to how dangerous that equipment is. An Engineer and Conductor can't see that far back, and if they do run somebody over they are none the wiser. I'm willing to bet those same people are more cautious when approaching traffic on a street than they are crossing through an idling freight train.

Quote:

Yup! I've seen people who were not railfans nor photographers at locations that I'd have been both tempted and envious to be at.

I remember being told the horror stories of what life was like in other countries yet now understand those stories are told about us.

You think Obama would grant amnesty for trespassing violations deemed too harsh? He has done so for crack addicts - oddly, even those who had been caught selling drugs and in possession of fire arm at the time. Go chief.

Mitch, considering Obama has at least gotten the ship pointed back in the right direction in spite of a Congress and political opposition that is hell bent on obstructing ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING he tries to accomplish, I'd say he certainly doesn't deserve half of the criticism he receives on a regular basis. It's almost as if there is something about him that people hate, something about the way he looks....oh what is it? I can't quite put my finger on it. Alas, maybe we should keep politics OUT of the discussion?